The Sun. — London, England, 1838-10-13 00:00:00

SO UTHA2tIPTON COMMERCIAL DOCKS. (BY EXPRESS.) The interevi eg anmportant o layig the foundati on stone of the ' e i Southampton ceremony Docks f took n place yesterday with all the Mai.onic honour, in presence of the Municipal authorities of the town of 'Southampton and an mense assemblage of spectators. The peculiar eligibility Eof this p ort as a commercial entrepot will be at once ac nsledged, when its position with regard to the rest of E gland, and the French coast is considered. The general r ange of the railways already executed or in vrogress in this _ a _ nn ,ntrY, and whi c h are destined ere many years to effect 1u h important changes in our mercantile and commercial f ar angements, is from North to South, and a line carried rom Edinburgh to Southampton would divide the country een them into two nearly equal parts—the East and w ott branches of the main trunk, already opened and in P.rogress of formation, affordieg to every part of the king nom access to the sea on either tide of the istand. The Po4ition of' Prozi • th4t nary Southampton on the English Channel ; its to the sea ; the complete shelter afforded by natural break 4. the Iste of Wight ; the great. docks, the tit Ptli of its main channel, fr,eiloin from bend or sinuosity, peculia r apii - of the site selectf . ,d for tite "calt, et the confliteece of the river lichen with South aPPton Water , presenting two sides of deep water for i entran the termination ' o f the London arid k ut to w nar nlatoo Railway, at. the Southern extremity of the abultin g on the ' dock premises ; —all these circurn st,n (es seem calculated to confer upon that port a decided. 'neeri • minty mer any other on the coast, so soon as the 4.nPletion of capacious docks will afford proper accornino alnTh to the maritime trade of the port. The evidence 0 me of the most tilde, practical men, before a to l lenl arY Committee of 'the House of Commons in 1836, Elli tg ' w hom were Si r Th om a s Hardy,. Hon. Captain ot, on e of the Lords of the Admiralty, Captains Forder, Ward • , and Cator R.N., Mr. Stephens, &e., is all conclusive In f a y , ( Rir or the actea.itages which this port possesses for the most . extensiVe merwntile arrangements, its facility of access In all winds, and at all times of the tide, for vessels of the 'a sest burden, when contrasted with the perils and delays t which vessel s t o or f rom L ondon are frequently sub j ected mill the Downs would almost lead us to pr e dict that it Port -e reafter become ' a formidable rival to the metropolitan .h ewe h fully 'ustifiell in saying that the ploce , are, owe% er. J yearsdings of yesterday will be looked upon, ere mar!) , thH 4 "° elapsed, as the commencement of a new era in history of that town. h T he morning, which was extremely fine, was ushered in y t he rlngio4 of b e ll s ; {l, ! g s were hoisted upon all the "bilele buildi ngs of the town,and banners, with various aPPropriate devices, were displayed across the .principal li t t h ree ,lti, or from the windows. The balconies of many of house„ , were tastefully decorated with laurels, most of m e s iloPs were closed, and the influx of strangers during th e part of the day, all betokened that it was " high hAt o liday" throughout the entire district of Hampshire. nine o'clock the Provincial Grand Lodge, and the various Lod '' • b I of the county, assem bled ges and visiting ri irei at the Freemasons' Hall, Bugle-street ; mid at ten t r l,',e Lodge was, in Masonic phraseuiogy, " close tiled." e he - Aldermen and Town _ yor, Joseph Lobb. Esq., the ° uncil, t h e Chairman, Directors, Officers, and Proprie ;k°rsi°F the Dock Company, &c. &c., assembled at the J • : House, Hi g h- street, at tin o ' cloc k , where they were ('n wed by t h e Masonic Body, which had formed in proces at' and pro cee d e d f rom t h e i r L o d ge-room, down Bugle th"et, al ong the Quay, and up High-street. The whole Bugle then moved on, in the following o rd er , t e All S a i nts ' Church Union Jack. Banner. Banner. " Southampton Dock Company." " Trade and Commerce." Body of Men employed on the Works. Ba,,ner. " God Save the Queen." Band of Music. Town Ciier. t, Silver Oar 'rile by Town Sergeant. Mace Borne by Town Sergeant Principal Mice—l3orne by Town sergeanr. The Worshipful the Mayor—JnsErn Loan, Esq. The Reverend the R"ctor of All Saints' Church. Aldermen—Two and Two. Councillors—Tao anti Two. Town CI( rk. The Chairman of the . Southampton Dock Company, Jus• ph Liggins, Esq. The Board of Direc'ors—Two and Two. Engineer—Fr.incis Giles, Esq. Solicitors to the Company. - - Contractor and Director of Works. Assistant Engineer. Proprietors—Two and Two. Colours. Band of Music. Tyler with Drawn Sword. Vlitsll_l, Brethren. not Members of any Lodge, in Attendance. , of the Southampton 14,!dge, N ) 555. Southampton. e Worshipful Master. Othcers, and . Brethren of rotten. Bennet Lodge. Th e ihr,ner of the Lodge of Peace and Haruwny, No. 462, Romsey. urshit,ful Master, Officers, r and Brethren the Lodge of Peace and Harmony. 44:ner of th e Royal Sussex Lodge, N o . 428, P ortsea. Worshipful Master Officers, and Brethren of the Forst . L Lodge. 111 ,,, r ' i rl°c of the New Forest Lodge, No. Be en of 'no Worshiptul I s l i aste ew i or O es ffi t ci . :r o s jg a e n . d Brethren i Th e r Banne of the Phoenix Lodge, N o . 319, Portsmouth. ornhipful Mesta, Officers, and Brethren of the Phcenix Lodge. 1,4 aner of th e L o d ge of Hengist, No. 230, Ch r i stc h urc h , The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge of Hengist. Tae P. 'soner of the Lodge of Unity. No. 154, Ringwood. ‘'otAipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge of Unity. Ist i '_'!P of the Master,u Lodge, No. 152, Southampton. Tae Worshipful Officers and Brethren of the Royal Gloucester Lodge. Baas of the Lodge of Economy, No. 90, Winchester. e "Vnr shipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge Th of Economy. y Tyler. Tler. 11 , 1: bo. ner of t h e P rov i ncial Grand Lodge of Hampshire.. sonic Banner, !M Banner. qr a Architect. G ran d S u p er i n t e nd e nt 'of Works. rid birector of Ceremonies. Grand Registrar. Gr ua c,Grand Deacon. Grand Deacon. cretary with Books of Grand Treasurer. .pas, Constitutions l'r°vineial Grand Officers of the Province of Hampshire. l'i , b. Visiting Provincial Grand Officers. .laZight Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of the ate. der, ‘B,Vight, the Right Hon. the Earl of Yarborough, st ew Jnir Grand Warden. "I* Standard of o Provincial Grand Lodge. Steward. Senior Grand Warden. r T hree B rethren bearing Corn, Wine, and Oil. e" Sr Ch aPlain—Th e R ev . W. H. B roo kfirld, M A. 'NAN. V olume of the Sacred Law on a Velvet Steward. Cushion. D eputy Provincial Grand Master. Grand Sword Bearer. Stanard. The Birk Worshipful the Acting Provincial Grand Master, A dmiral Sir L UCIUS C URTIS , B art ., C.B. Steward. &c. &c. &c. The Provincial Grand Tyler. Th e Banner. l'eqiett.Ze°Rsion was closed by a large body of the most On . e;ioliabitants of the town and neighbour . h . ood. 1'1:4 seat s in the church . the municipal authorities took tt 'rth • : a lo the south aisle, and the ma conic body on the 4 e ; the galleries were 'opened to the public, and 'old —reb was crowded in every part. After the prayers 4hl rtri e ' s " B of the day, a very impressive and appropriate tfA Oll was preachedh„the Rev. W. H. Brookfield, —• efts 1 01- tr e Procession returned in t ~Tr jas e-s t - o . , e s e t a nd Winkle -street, to the . quays—the windows, ' 4 ‘iqn "Id every point from which a view o . f the pro :ll%e. be obtained being crowded to excess. The f0r„,(4% after ~t he eastern end of the platd .iinq.. a Torated with a prolusion of fitgs an k ti • ea en "ati on e tle stage, in the centre of which the sir at() oe, an immense granite block, was suspended sly d ° ' g iron cable over another which had been previ n -. 41 , r, a - r 4 .;: d el3 ° 3 ited in it lace. The procession having been his thes Place. the Provincial Grand Master he %tone:'' station on the ' platform on the east side of t Th _ Preceded by the standard and sword-bearer. and,: CHAIRMAN of the Dock Company then advanced, queh tod Sir Lucius Curtis to lay the stone, presenting ept,,,:trtbe same time with a silver trowel, on which the L etti e °l : the Company' were engraved. The trowel was ii ( 4 • 1 , 'n the processien by Henry Liggins, son of t titi a4i n :;' aod a brass tablet, on which was the following IN 1 1 S. W. Bushby, son of a Director entitiEtioitaTiox OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF AT ,„,VI OM PO N.ERCIAL DOCKS' PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON. S IR 1 HIS FOUNDATION STONE lec As LAID BY °I qa nell3 W S CURTIS, KNIGHT AND B ARO N E T , rnbe House, i n t hi s County, C ompan i on of the Most "olniral 00(11-able of and Milit ary O r d er o f the Bath, Rear. Ad -4d He r M a j esty ' s Ro3al Navy, &c. &c. &c., Right Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Maste r ot' Hampshire, and the Provincial Grand Lodge and other Lodg es in the said Province of Or, „, Fate AND ACCEPTED MASONS, - the 12th rimy or OCTOBER, 183 g. eh h i ASSISTED THE 4111 ' 41 a n d Direetot, of the Southampton Dock Company, Tttg in the Presence of VvOttstIIPITL TIIE IfATOR, JOSEPH LOBB, ESQ. The Corporation of the Town of Southampton, The Right Hon the Earl of Yarborough, P. G. Master of the Isle of Wight, and many Distinguished Visitors. - DIRECTORS. JOSEPH LIGGINS. Esq., Ch.,irman,. Capt. WILLIAM WARD, R N., Deputy Chairman, Henry Buchan, Esq. Richard Heathfield, Esq. Joseph Bushby, I Wm. James Le Feuvre, Esq. Samuel Chaplin, Esq. Henry Luard, Esq. Job Ede, Esq. James Rigmaiden, Esq. Major Charles Franklin Head. John Witt. Esq. ENGINEER. —Francis Giles, Esq. STANDING COUNSEL.—Richard Hcathfield, Jun., Esq. SOLICITORS Nlessrs. Lock, Smith, and Al.istons, London; Odessrs. James Sharp and Hialison, Southampton. This place bt.viug bt en deposited in its place on the lower stone. Toe Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev. W. H. BROOKFIELD then advanced and repeated the following prince:—" Oh Lord God Almighty, who str -tchest out the heavens like a curtain and lavest the beams of thy cbambi-rs in the waters, thy seat is high in heaven, and yet thine eyes behold and thine eyelids try the children of men. Without thee nothing is strong, nothing is holy : except thou built the city their labour is but lost that build it ; ex cept thou keep the city the watchmen watchuth but in vain. Therefore we beseech thee to hear us in heaven, thy dwel and to bow doxn and bless and sanctify the work which we have this day begun in humble dr•pendenee upon thine aid and protection. In this, as in all our doings, we pray thee prescnie and follow us. Prosper thou the work of our hangs upon us—Oh ! prosper thou our handy work. We devoutly ask of tlp.e, if it be thy good pleasure, that the issue of this day's undertaking, may be an enlargad rosp?rity to Guetown, and that thou wilt deign to sanctify that pr( saerity to thine own honour and the happiness of men. If . ricaes increase let not meat set their hearts upon them, but let them seek evermore the true riches of thy grace, lay up their treasure where moth and rust doth net corrupt, tv.d Mier • thiefes break not through nor steal. And forasmuch as it is likely that this our enterprize will call forth many to occupy their business in great waters, and encounter the dangers of the sea, we therefore pray thee, who last the winds in thy keeping, and the waters in the hollow of thine hand, always to save and defend the ma ricers of England. Accompany them, Oh Lord! in their safety,and in their hour of peril hear their cry, and stretch forth thy right hand to deliver them, that being delivered from their distress, they may live to serve thee, and glorify thy name all the days of their life. Bless, we pray thee, the intercourse between this country and foreign lands, not only to their temporal, but aho to their eternal prosperity ; and amid the merchandise that shall be carried to and fro upon the earth, let not the goodly pearl of great price be wanting, but let this country be the honoured means in thy hands for spreading abroad the knowledge of thy name, that thy ways may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. And, oh Lord, we beseech thee, to bless this our town and neighbourhood, and if it be in thy councils that ber inhabitants should be multiplied, and her borders enlarged, we pray thee also to enlarge upon her always more and more the riches of thy grace. Endue her ministers with meekness and truth, and her magistrates with wisdom and justice ; make the rich 13 , tuntiful, and the poor cent encetl ; and may thy grace and heavenly bene diction rest upon all sorts and conditions of men. And may all things be so ordered and settled, that truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. Hear Ili, oh Lord, and answer, for we aqk all in the name, and for the sake of thy son, Jesus CI) ist, our Lord." The P. G. TREASURER then dennsite.d a glass bottle containing the various coins of the past and present reign in the lower stone. TLe cement was then applied, and the stone slowly lowered to its place, the Provincial Grand Master proving it to be properly adjusted by the level plumb-rule and square, which were presented by the P. G. J. Warden, the P. G. S. W mien, and the Deputy P. G. Master. The I'. G. Architect then delivered the mallet, with which the P. G. Master gave three knoCks, saying : " May THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE enable us successfully to carry on and finish the work of which we have now laid the Foundation Stone, and every other undertaking that may tend to the advantage of the Town and County of Southampton, and its Harbour. May He be a guard and protection to them, and may they long be preserved from peril and decay." The several implements were then returned, and the plan of the work presented by the Engineer, F. Giles, Esq., of which the P. G. Master signified his approval and re turned it to the Engineer. The P. G. M. then scattered corn and poured wine and oil upon the stone, saying : " May the bountiful hand of HEAVEN ever supply this country with abundance of Corn, Wine, and Oil, and all the necessaries and comforts of life." The P. G. Master having re-ascended the platform, formally announced to the Chairman that the stone had been duly laid. He trusted that the great work which had been just now so auspi c i ous ly commenced, would be carried to a happy termination. The undertaking was one which was calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity of the town and nei ; lhbourhood, by giving a new stimulus to commercial enterprise and affording permanent and remu nerating employment for a large number of the working classes. He trusted that they would shortly see those docks crowded with the vessels of all nations freighted with rich and ample cargoes from the remotest climes of the east and west, and that they would render Southamp ton the grand southern entrepot of commerce in that country. It was undertakings like the present that were best calculated to promote the peace and prosperity of man kind, and he trusted that the people of Southampton might long enjoy those blessings. As soon as the Gallant Admiral had concluded his ad dress, three loud aad hearty cheers were given by the Brethren, which were taken up and repeated by the vast assemblage, which, on the lowest calculation, must have amounted to I.s,ooo—the bands in attendance struck up the national anthem, a salute of artillery was fired from the pier, hats were flung up, and flags and banners waved on all sides. The scene at this moment was extremely animated and interesting. The sun which had been for some time pre viously obscured, burst out with great. splendour, and illumi nated the beautiful panorama of the Southampton waters, with its picturesque coast scenery, every part of which, with the shores of Itcheu as far as the eye could reach, was densely crowded with human beings ; the vessels and yachts in the roadstead were all gaily decorated with flags, and *their yards and rigging manned ; the piers, quays; windows, trees, and even housetops, were thickly studded with those who could not obtain a nearer view of the pro ceedings, and every countenance around us was expressive of gratification and joy. When silence had been in some measure restored, JOSEPH LIGGINS, Esq., the Chairman of the Dock Com pany, ascended the stone and addressed the assembly to the following effect :—" Right Worshipful the ♦cting Grand Master, and Gentlemen, United Brethren of free and accepted Masons—the Worshipful Mayor and Gentlemen of the. Corporation of Southampton—and Gentlemen Pro prietors of the Southampton Docks—by virtue of and under the Provisions of an Act of Parliament that was passed in the hitter part of the reign of our late and deeply lamented Sovereign. King William IV., by which this Company was incorpor.tted, I declare this to be the first, the foundation stone of Commercial Docks at this port. An undertaking vast in its extent, and comprehensive in its design, that has been devised by a band of men who, in singleness of heart, and with honesty of purpose, knowing wh*t is now required to meet the demands of commerce, and foreseeing. as we believe we do in the multifarious changes that are now taking place, that increased nece=sitics will soon be mani fested, have resolved to be prepared for coming events, under a deep conviction of mind, that in attaining the ends here contemplated we shall at the same time accomplish another object of a much purer, a much higher, be cause a more Christiaoly character--I mean the miti gation of human sufferin7—the preservation of human life, for, as men of business, we know what is needful to fuel:hate the daily operation of our own affairs. As shipowners, we know where our ships are subject to the longest detentions by contrary winds, by which our expenses are largely increased ; as merchants, we know where we are exposed to the greatest losses by the destruction of our property ; and above all, we know where it is that the greatest number of human beings are sacrificed to the fury of the contending elements—and we hope, as we firmly believe, that all these evils, great as they are, will be largely diminished by the construction of docks in this magnificent harbour.—(Loud cheers.) Gen tlemen, permit me to offer you my sincere and my hearty c ongratulations that this most noble work is so auspiciously commenced in your presence and under your sanction, and laymen though we be, though we are men " who go to the sea in ships and occupy our business on great waters," let us from this place join with the utmost sincerity the Rev. Gentleman whom I have now the honour and the happiness to see before me, in the pious exhortation he uttered this day in the house of God—that the Almighty disposer of our destinies will be graciously pleased so to guide our steps and direct our way in the progress of this undertaking, that through His assistance we may be en ab:ed to bring it to a final and successful completion—that when we who are here assembled together shall have " shuffled off the mortal coil," by which we are sur rounded, that countless numbers will remain behind who will have reason to rejoice in the good works per formed by those who are gone before—when little children may clap their hands for joy that their friends have been preserved from • an untimely death by shipwreck—when they may be enabled to say their" father is yet alive," and when the whole cnmmercial community may be in the full etuoyment of all those advantages which must accrue from a great commercial structure such as this will be, and which trust will endure for ages.—(Hear, and cheers.) Sir Lucius Curtis, permit me, in my own name, In the name of my colleagues, and on the behalf of the Pioprietors of the Company generally, totffer yourself, and the united brethren, our united, our cordial thanks, for the honour you have done us this day, in placing the stone on which I stand-- the foundation of our future docks.—(Great cheering.) Three cheers were then given for the Worshipful the MAYOR, who returned thanks for the compliment paid him. They had that day laid the foundation stone of one•of the most important works that had ever been commenced in Southampton, and he hoped he should shortly see im mense masses of building rising upon that spot, which would confer employment and happiness upon thousands of families, and their children after the►n.—(Cheers.) Their worthy Chairman had p'aced the merits of the undertakin g in the proper light, for he had based them upon Christianity. and humanity—those feelings were characteristi c of the English nation, and of the mason's heart.—(lmmense cheering.) He (Mr. Lobb) was himself a mason, and most sincerely did he congratulate that ancient and honourabl e fraternity that it had been called upon to lay the founda tion stone of these Docks. Occupying the position of Chief Magistrate of the town, he could not but congratulate himself that he was the first who had ever witnessed an undertaking of the kind, which was likely to promote sa extensively the wealth and happiness of its people. (Cheers). Three hearty cheers were then given for the Earl of Yar borough, who briAly expressed his acknowledgments, and the sincere pleasure he felt at having been present at the interesting ceremonies of the day. The procession then re-formed, and returned by the same route, the municipal authorities halting at the audit-house, and the brethren proceeding to their lodge room. The Western Dock, of which the foundation stone was laid, is situate to the east of the town pier, and close to the terminus of the London and Southampton Railway, which will cross the high road near the Dock-house in a direct line, and proceed along the dock quay, so that goods and passengers can be literally transferred from the vessels' to the railway carriages. The eastern embank ment along which it is intended the railway shall pass will be 3,040 feet long, and the Western Dock wall 1,760 feet. The dimensions of the dock are 1,700 feet long by 500 feet wide, and it will contain 23 feet in depth of water at . high water of spring tides. The Company have also pur chased a large tract of land to the east of the intended dock, containing' upwards of 154 acres, so that the means are at their disposal of affording further dock room, as soon as the increased trade of the town may require it. THE DINNER. A public dinner, in commemoration of the important proceedings of the day, took place in the evening at the Star Hotel, which was attended by the E-rl of Yarborough, Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, C. 8., the Worshipful Mayor, and several of the Aldermen and Town Giuncil, the Rev. W. H. Brookfield, Captain Ward, R.N., the Chairman, and several of the Directors of the Dock Company, and about 150 of the principal inhabitants of the town. The dinner provided by Shepherd was excellent, and the wines, including an abundance of champagne, of first rate quality. Joseph Liggins, Esq., presided. After ample justice had heti' done to the good things provided, and grace said, The CHAIRMAN rose and said—Gentlemen, in proposing to you the first toast, and thereby gi‘ing you an opportu nity of expressing your loyalty to your Sovereign, and your attachment .to the Throne, I cannot refrain from reminding you that the stupendous work we have thi s d a y commence d, is the first work of the kind ever begun in this country dur ing the reign of a Queen.—(Hear, hear.) It is, more over, the first work of any magnitude commenced at so early an age of the Sovereign of these realms. As these our Docks r.re now in a state of infancy, and her Majesty, I hope, in the enjoyment of the bloom of youth, let us hope that both will advance together in peace and prosperity to• a happy old age.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) " The Queen."—Drank with nine times nine. The CHAIRMAN—GentI, men, there is another illustri ous lady, who, by her virtues and exemplary conduct, has endeared h ers elf t o th e h eart o f every British subject. 'The bereavement she has sustained has excited, I believe I may venture to affirm, the regret and sympathy of every Bri tish bosom.—( Hear, hear.) She has rucently left our shores, to search in a distant land for the restoration of that health, which in her own clime has been denied to her, and let us hope that she may not be disappointed.— ( Hear, hear.) There are other members of the Royal Family to whom I need not allude further than to say that they are branches of that illustrious house which has tor so many years happily and prosperously reigned over these realms. " The Queen Dowager and the rest of the Royal Fa mily," three times three. The CHAIRMAN said, in rising to do honour to the united servie,e of the country , it was an easy and a pleasing duty to recal to their recollection the victories of a Nelson, or the achiements of a Wellington, who yet lived among the men of Hampshire.—(Cheers.) The nay), they had been told in high places, was in a somewhat ricketty state, which, if true, they should all deeply deplore. As a corn mvrcial man he confessed he felt the consequen ces sensitively; for without a sufficient naval ma rine they could not long preserve their commercial marine. But he hoped, as they all did, that ‘• the wooden walls of old England" were yet sound in the main, and although there might be a few decayed timbers, he trusted when they had been replaced by others of a better description, that the service would be again brought into that high_ state of efficiency, which would enable it, whenever the day again returned, to vindicate the banner of their country—to assert its supremacy on the seas—to compel all opponents to respect the honour of their nation, and throw around their commercial marine that protection which they had from the earliest period of their history enjoyed.—(Great cheering.) " The Army and N a vy." Admiral Sir LUCIUS CURTIS returned thanks. As an humble membor of the naval profession, he felt deeply in debted to them for the complimentary manner in which it had been alluded to. With regard to the ricketty state of the navy—(A laugh)—he did not dispute but that there might be some unsound titnb,A.s in the ship, but he trusted whenever these ships were callA forth to fight the battles of their country, that it would be found whatever their ric ketty state might be, their men had " hearts of oak. (Vehement cheering.) He also trusted that when it should please God that that country should be again in volved in war, that the navy would do its duty in a man ner to ensure for it that high approbation and kind feeling which it had ever experienced, not only at the hands of the present company, but of the country generally.—(Cheering,) Major STEVENS returned thanks on behalf of the army. He little thought that he would have been called upon to address that assembly, and although he had the honour of holding a commisson in her Majesty's army, yet he had strong claims also upon that glorious service to which the gallant Admiral had alluded. He trusted that the two branches of the service would always co-operate for the good of the country, as they had hitherto done. It was the boast of every British soldier, that he should be always ready to protect the interests of British merchants, and to maintain the liberty and independence of the glorious institutions of their country.—(Loud cheers-) He referred to this with the more pride from having lately read a passage from the work of M. Dupin, a French author, who had lately visited England, in which he said, " the British army, unlike the armies of the continent, is not employed to perpetuate slavery and oppres sion, but to protect their glorious institutions, the right to which they themselves inherit."—(Much applause.) In England the protection of property and the vindication of liberty were the two most prominent, as they were the most honourable duties, of the British , oltlier arid sailor. In conclusion, he begged to return them thanks for the honour they had conferred on the profession to which he belonged. The CHAIRMAN said the happy moment had at length arrived, when in the ordinary course of things the pleasing duty devolved upon him of proposing to thorn a toast, which naturally arose out of the proceedings ~f the day. He had, however, to solicit their in• dulgent permission to transfer to another the perform ance of that duty, to which he was far more competent than himself—to a gentleman for whom he felt personally the highest respect, and the most profound esteem. He alluded to one who was his honourable colleague in the direction of the affairs of the Dock Company—who was . • !___ i t n he ti s te en s i l o i g r hptei s r t ec d t o eg r r o e f e t d e C t o r a m e p t a fr n e y m , an i, i d s he without art hearty e d e e i s n i t ? il ie n ,v g to. ledgment s t o hi s o the r c ollea g ues, yet he was satisfied , tl_ would permit him t o sa y i n th e p re s e nce of that assembly , that the gentleman to whom he alluded had laboured more heartily than them all.—(Hear, hear.) The Dock under taking was a subject that was near and dear to his heart — he mi g ht w i t h trut h b e sa id to b e the f oster - paren t of the undertakirw, and he felt assured that having said so ntuc_ they would no t d eny to h i m the favour of call i ng upon Mr. Heathfield.—(Loud cheering.) MR. HEATHFIELD said that his Hon. Friend had im posed on him a duty which he would have performed much more to their instruction and advantage than himself. The difficulty w as i ncrease d b y the kind manner in iwh i c h the Chairman had been pleased to speak of his humble services in the undertaking. He must disclaim, however, the h tli o m no . u r of They had l l all which i)eeem t e h e Ch itsre aim s r ter a - t p l a l r i e ad sc nt a sf r ro iled to m ) the manner in which they had identified themselves with it that soe t m h pmfee e tin i cin r lcteee c intdr h ot : i l ati d aihdtr r evb e va n o;gon , urtt:a L a r g i et m insitt:ettt g liii,eroi e sn n daa e p: r lpoa a ritel t ti i inotnerptorisge day, and he hoped.they would share the duties of parternity with them to the end of their lives, and transmit them to himor possessed —upon li, t a o te d r— i a t th e e u i r p n o t n ohbel t es h ee6uprri break water, en tlle r ; ti h m a ' d • j \ u V st ith co r m e: the Isle of Wight—their contiguity to the oce..n , east and west — or t h e i r proximity to Po r ts mo uth, which might be likened to their right arm and shield of defence— or, .in fact, the manifold advantages wh eh nature, and the most exquisite naval art Of the country 11,1 d combined to shower upon their situation.—(Cheers.) The question na turally arose, how happened it that a situation so favoured by nature and art s.hould have been so long neglected ? This was a problem the solution of which rt quired some insight into the institutions of their country, and an acquaintance with those commercial relations by which the trade was confined to peculiar situations. In order to make that in telligible, it would be necessary to refer them to other great commercial towns. One of these was 13i istol, which owed its commercial superiority to the mineral stores of coal and iron with which it was favoured. Tl.ose mineral stores led to manufacturing industry, and manufacturing industry, again, begat a spirit of enterprise. It had led to wealth—it had encouraged enterprise, and had afforded opportunities to Bristol, which had been profited by it to an extent, that had raised it to the rank of the second city in the empire. One of the first advantages of their large menu lecturing resources was the possession of the African trade, which was obtained almost exclusively by Bristol—the con sequence of this enjoyment, from their position, of the African trade was a large and free intercourse with the West Indies—that intercourse led, inasmuch as their con 'centrated capital and labour rendered those islands valuable, to large West Indian possessions either by right of sale or mortgage. That, again, led to a new opening of trade—a greater command of shipping interest, fur ther enterprise, and additional intercourse with the Ame rican colonies. That state of things went on down to the American war, because down to that period trade was conducted upon a different system—a few houses possessed the entire monopole, all the exports and im ports passing through their hands by prescriptive right, and were handed down from father to son, and from ge neration to generation. The American war broke up that system, and Liverpool having advanced from similar causes, viz., her great manufacturing resources, she acquired the greater part of the African trade, and the possession of that trade led to large possessions in the West In dies, on the part of the great ship owners. That state of things went on. The whole trade of Ireland which was opposite these ports passing through them, and they be came the great commercial towns they now saw them. Next came the port of London ; and its history was not a little interesting. London did not enjoy a paramount share in the commerce of the country until the time of Elizabeth. He did not mean that its trade was small, bat it was so when contrasted with what it now is. In the days of E izaheth particular interests were much fostered by treaties and the granting of charters to one private Company or another, and more particularly as regarded the East India Trade. London having obtained a monopolyof the E ist India trade, had by degrees drawn to itself the largest trade of the country, and for this reason particularly, that no general assorted cargo could be made up without resoreing to London for some of the ingredients from the India or China trade. Thus had arisen its overpowering influence, and this was why Southampton, being so near the part of London, was one of the last to avail herself of it ; but important changes had taken place since then.--(Hear, hear.) The negro in the West Indies had been emancipated ; the plauter had been emancipated from his mortgages by the payment of the twenty millions, and there was no loner a monopoly of the Eut India trade. All the ports of the country were now open to avail themselves of the East India trade, and in addition to that they had obtained a new and most extraordinary power of locomotion in the steam-engine.—(Great cheer ing.) Although manufactures might still he produced in the greatest quantities in the neighbourhood of Liverpool and Bristol, the simple question would shortly be (the facilities of communication from one part of the country to the other being now so great.) not what place the goods were manufactured at, but at what port they could be em barked with the greatest advantage ?—(Hear, hear.) In fine, the commerce of the country had been brought to that position that it resembled the element of water which its own nhp o eo 1 portion which e v seotl vesselsf t ; ma tole. luitttairdtaw(plaeosr start t toi e w fam o t o u ttin l ii d lasettr r t lao b bwe t l a oce i us ti titih t te l r,x i , yet )tic)wl fsi!edr g e r if inn e en , d l ed t e i n r fi the could not be carried on with equal advantage of time and economy by any other port when put in competitio n with that of Southampton.—( Vehement cheering.) It was on these grounds that having some ac quaintance with the history of the commerce of that coun try filet he had become an ardent supporter of these Docks.—(Cheers.) He believed that no port was better fitted for an extensive trade than that of Southampton. Circumstances hitherto had not been favourable for aggre gation—for trade was but an aggregation in which, when seeking for one commodity, you must find another by its side. From the peculiar advantages which the port of Lon don formerly possessed from its monopoly, there had been no concurrence of causes sufficient to justify the expendi ture of large sums of money on the improvement of the port of Southampton. The time had. at length arrived when the other ports would find their level as water did, and it might fully be presumed that the present period would constitute the commencement of a series of prosperity.and success to their port without example. Not only was there an aggregation of circum stances in their favour without example, but the amount to be expended, when put in competition with the results capable of being produced, would be extremely small. The site of the docks, upon which they had the pleasure of meeting that day, was sufficient to carry on nearly as much trade as all the docks of Liverpool, although they ranged mile after mile along the Mersey.—( Loud cheers.) That small spot of ground, by the convolutions of its quay , , and by ki to' advantage of the glorious wharf accommodation to l enablewhichthem to carry sass ontoasthmetun much tradealong Itch en, the e docks "'n of d Liverpool. —(Veliement cheering.) He believed lie did no t ex aggerate, when he sa id that the y were ca p able of ac detine ne arly as much trade as the whole of the commo • docks of Lon don p ut to g ether.—(Hear, hear.) The presented.rry Liverpool dock s cost in round numbers—and he would his friend Mr. Giles, the eminent engi neer, if he w as mistaken—not leis than betwee n be set right b y `'our f i ve millions, 1 while st they ate d t c h a a l t cu t l calculated h d so a f v a e r as a many d would e could carry the m, a milli on of money would cover tl s i t s But the difference in the res u lt was mos t extraor dinary. He l i‘ , e rp Linear feet of dock quays as at Liverp oo l, b ut t h e estimate and (Hear, hear.)ole of the g round at Southam pton with docks.— a system did not comprehend the pl an of bonding vare h ous es, which was b y f s r th e most , beni'fici a l p ar t o f the docks. So that it might fairly be assu med that they were laving out their money, as comp are d w i t h Li verpool, in the proportio n of one totight ; or, in oth er wor d s, that Liverpool their expenditu re would be eight times as valuable as that such, that they could not • • the latter port was coni b me at Liverpool.—(Cheers.) The Tlhne London nature otif,ethbeusginroesusodwains warehousing an (r s e tent cheering.) one ri n g in combined ; but t he cost of the London Docks, w hich did mo not much exceed in p ower, for landin g , shi pp in g , and stor ing,accomdation it was intended to have at South the anipton, was enormo us —lie had not made an es timate, but from a rough g uess lie would say that these Docks must have mil o li u o t n h s , , unon. and that avGaa He was sorry to have detained them so lon g ; but it was evident that the present undertaking was one which offered a r easonable hope of ample profit to tho se w h o embarked i n i t . But, above al l, he would add on e topic which h a d a:o e u cost o s oft a thet least port of s been so feeling l y touched upon by their res pected Chair manstten that day. The gr eat savin g of humhuman life which it w a s likely to produce ; a nd that was th e paramount con sideration of all.—( H e ar, hear, and che ers .) T he great danger, as all seamen and mercantile men knew, was between the Isle of Wight and the Thames, As merchants, they all knew the dangers of the Mersey, they knew that the dangers of the British Channel were great, and that the loss of life on that coast was immense. The port of Southampton was placed upon the sea-board of the English Channel. He (Mr. H.) hail travelled very much over the world, and he bad made inquiries of others, who had also visited other countries, and he believed that on the face of the globe, there was no situation which pre sented such remarkable and peculiar advantages as the port of Southampton. In the Island of Great Britain, they had a more marked coast, more estuaries and ports than in any other part of the world of the same extent, and not one of these presented the same advantages as Southampton. For these reasons the docks had been commenced under aus pices sufficient to justify the application of money to the objects they had in view, and be would therefore give them " Success and prosperity to the Southampton Docks." The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm. The CHAIRMAN said the pleasing duty now devolved on him of reminding them that another most extensise and im portant work was in a state of progress, and upon which he for one was ready most frankly to edmit the prosperity of their Docks depended. He knew, and he regretted that it wa • s so, and it was a very commo n thing for persons to say that th e un d ertaking to which be alluded would pros per equally without the Docks as with them. He re gretted that such expressions had been used, for he thought there was neither much of truth nor of sound judgment in the declaration.—(Hear.) There was one fact, however, of which he was assured, that it was a most important national undertaking- It was one to which he individually wished every degree of success and prosperity, and he could not forget that that undertaking and their own were both the fruits of one conception. It was true that fate in her ca price had given birth to the other at an earlier period than their own foundling, and c onsequently it was more rapidly approaching a state of maturity ; but he trusted there would be on the p resen t occasion but one opinion, and that th ey would all join with him most cordially and most sincerely in wishing the full measure of success to the London and Southampton Railway. The toast was drank with great cheering. Mr. BARNEY, one of the Directors, having been called upon, returned thanks. He regretted that seine other Director connected with the Company, who could much better enter into the details of the undertaking than him self, had not been called upon. It appeared to him that the two undertakings would be productive of mutual benefit to each other ; and he believed be spoke the sentiments of the majority of the CoMpany, when he stated that 'they were all most anxious for the prosperity of the Southampton Docks.—(Cheers) After somelarther observations, Mr. B ircey concluded by thanking them for the compliment they had paid the Railway Company. The CHAIRMAN wished to advert for a moment - to cir cumstances which had transpired that day, which had im pressed the minds of himself and his colleagues with emo tions and 'sentiments of the most gratify;ng description. There was a time when the Directors of the Southampton Dock Company were not held in very high esteem in that town in which they had passel so happy a day ; but they must all rejoice that he was now peaking of times gone by. They rejoiced greatly to find that altered feeling pervading the minds of the people of Southampton, and that they had extended to th'em their right - hand of fellowship with a cordiality which they hal not heretofore enjoyed. The kindness they had experienced that day was quite sufficient to banish from their memories the treatment they had met with on a former occasion ; and he took that oppor tunity of offering, on behalf of his co ll eagues an d him self, their cordial and grateful thanks to the Worshipful Mayor and every other member of the Corporatiou of Southampton.—(Loud cheers.) They rejoiced greatly to find that his Worship deemed them as a body worthy of his countenance and friendly attention. Perhaps it would not be assuming too much if he gave him credit for a con siderable portion of the change that had taken place.— ( Hear, hear.) Whether he was correct or not, of this he was assured, that a total and complete alteration in the state of public feeling had been manifested towards them that day. The formidable opposition that formerly existed had dwindled down to only three opponents.—(Great cheering and laughter.) He rejoiced at this, because in ther large and beautiful town he hoped to spend many happy days with his family ; and he rejoiced that an oppor tunity had been afforded him that day of adding to the numbar of his personal acquaintances, and he hoped he might be allowed to add to his personal friend!. On the d iy when the Dock-gates would be opened for the reception of vessels, it was his intention to come and reside among them ; and he would not come alone, for he had friends in distant parts of the country who felt, powerful] ) and potently, the attractions of Southampton, and who had declared that be should not enjoy a monopoly of them. —(Laughter.) But to return to the teast. He would now beg of them to join him. with the utmost cord wiry, in (Finking the lr‘alth of the Worshipful Mayor and the Cor poration of Southampton.—(Much cheering.) The MAYOR returned thanks. It gave him peculiar gratification that the foundation-stone of these magnificent Docks had been laid during his Mayoralty. It was also gratifying to him that another most important undertaking had been opened during the same period ; and he was sure that with her Docks and her Railway, Southampton would become a town of such importance as her warmes! friends never contemplated. At one time it enjoyed the advantages of a large export and import trade, - but that was very many years ago, and it had since shrunk into comparative contempt and insignificance. Mr. Heath field had very ably pointed out to them the causes which had operated to produce these results, but the curtain had arisen—the foundation-stone of the Docks had been laid— an] he saw before them, what he hoped would be speedily realized, a flood of commerce which would bring pro , perity to their town, and which would exhibit to them the flags of a thousand nations floating in their river, and the usa less piece of mud which the tide of ages had rolled over, converted into something which would be beneficial to man kind. Their worthy Chairman, when laying the founda tion -stone, had adverted to the saving of human life which would be effected—his sentiments did honour to him, b. nd he was certain that with such good and Christian feelings their undertaking would progress, and the great God would bless it.—(Much cheering.) The people of Southampton owed a deep debt of gratitude to the gentlemen who were about to carry these great objects into effect, and he there fore begged to propose, in a full bumper, " the health of the Chairman and the Dirtctors of the Southampton Dock Company." Mr. LIGGINS returned thanks. On the part of himself and his colleagues he begged to return them his most griteful acknowledgments for the compliment that had been paid them. He received the marks of attervicn with which they had been honoured that dav as an assurance of what they might expect when he ana many others like him might become residents of their town. The CHAIRMAN shortly afterwards rose, and observed that the acknowledgments of the Directors and Proprietors of the Dock Company were due to a large number of indi viduals, whom he had now the pleasure to see around him, and at their head stood the Gallant Admiral on his right hand.—(Cheers.) They felt that a considerable degree of splendour had been added by their presence, to the inte resting ceremony which bad occupied them that day ; and they felt that the foundation -stow, with their aid, and as sistance, and cooperation, had been laid in a much better manner than they could have done it themselves.—(Cheers.) Ile could not sufficiently express the gratification they felt at the generous manner in which the Hon. Baronet had stepped forward to offer his as,istance on the present occa sion, nor could he omit returning- his acknowledgments to the United Brethren of free and accepted Mssons, for the cordial manner in which they had co-operated with him. He trusted the time was not far distant when they should be happy to put their kind sort ices into requisition again. He was most aaxioas, when their first Dock was opened, to have a ship of his own brought in, but he understood that he would be disappointed, for a ship was about to be built on purpose, called the Southampton, which would be ready before the Dock-gates, and which would pluck the laurel from his brows.—( Laughter and cheers.) After pro nouncing a handsome culogium upon the Gallant Admiral, the Chairman gave— " Sir Lucius Curtis, Provincial Grand Master, and the United Brethren of Free and Accepted• Masons." Sir L.CURTIS returned thanks in an appropriate manner. The next toast g iven was " The Earl of Yarborough, Provisional Grand Master of the Isle of Wight and Com mander of the Royal Yacht Squadron." • Tile Earl of YARBoaouGli raurned thanks. The following toasts were afterwards given : " The Rev. Mr. Brookfield, Provincial Grand Chaplain of the Clergy." " The Engineer, F. Giles, Esq." " Tile Legal Advisers of the Company." " The Mover of the Resolution of the 30th of August." " The Freedom of the Press," &c. &c. &c. The Company did not separate till a late hour, and all 'patties appeared highly delighted with the proceedings of the day and the festivities with which they had been followed. LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA. (From New York Papers received to the 14th ult.) THE STORM. —A violent gale from the north-east, accom panied with heavy rain, commenced blowing on Wednesday afternoon, gradually increasing in severity until an early how yesterday morning when it subsided, and the sun broke out with the wonted brilliancy of the season. The gale has pro bably extended along the entire sea board, and we fear has been seriously felt by the shipping off the coast. In the bay yesterday morning, fourteen sail of square-rigged vessels were reported, including the ship Louisa, from Liverpool ashore inside the Hook, the ship Nero York from Liverpool, with loss of all her masts, and five other ships and seven brigs which had dragged their anchors, but had rode- out the gale in safety. On Governor's Island, a schooner and two sloops were driven high and dry; on Staten Island, the schooners Samuel B. Abbey, Sanutcl Franklin, of Duxbury, and a sloop were also driven ashore; all tho small crafr, however, will be got off without much injury. The floating light-ship was also driven from her moorings off the Hook. In the city the ravages of the storm are also perceptible. A new three story house in Twenty-second -street was blown down, many trees were uprooted by the wind, particularly in the Perk, where fourteen fine trees have been destroyed, and snteral others much bent and injured. The mails were all considerably behind their usual time of arrival. The southern mail, due at a very early hour, only arrived at 'eight o'clock, and the northern at 10 A.st. The steam-boat Swan, with the southern mail, lay at South Amboy all night, and left in the morning at daylight. The steam-boat Rhode Island, front Stonington, with the eastern mail, only got in in the afternoon about half-past four o'clock. The Lexington, which was to have left on Wednesday evening for• Stonington, did not start until next morning ; on reaching Corlear's Hook, she was found leaking a little in her boiler, and put in to repair, which, however, will probably not occupy more than a day to accomplish. The Massachusetts, for Providence, also lay by in the East River until yesterday morning. In our sister city of Brooklyn, two houses which were bui!d ing were blown down, and many of the trees in the streets. INDIAN TROUBLES. --The St. Louis Republican says that it understands that General Gaines has issued an order directing the troops now in garrison at Jefferson Barracks to march im mediately for the council ground, appointed by the Cherokees, in the Indian barracks, on September 11. The troops are placed under the command of Major B. Riley. The Ist Re giment of Dragoons, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, are also detailed for the expedition. General Gaines will be present at the council in person. The fiee in West Jersey continued to rage without miti gatiou on Monday. What influence the present most season able storm will have upon it remains to be- seen The Wood bury Constitution of yesterday says, the destruction in Bur lington and Atlantic counties has been immense. A great quantity of wood, prepared for market and coaling, with the standing timber, has been consumed, and such is the condition of the cedar-swamps, by reason of the severe drought, that they are for the most part as dry and inflammable as turf. The sAme paper adds : " The routs of the cedar being imbedded in moss and other light vegetable matter, it is found impossible to stay the r.l progress of the fl ames, an d i n a li ttle t i me t h e trees the selves fall and add f ue l to t h e d evour i ng e l emen t. islt now Ikea. feared that th e future grovi th of the cedar swa 411Pir totally destroyed. " Nire have just been infermed, that on Sat last, the fire broke out in the woods near GI o stir;ttitfer-kt. places; one of which vras in the neighbourhoo dam,.from a coal pit, and the other in the di ettiOr.:"4,k''"29,/!--..-.9.5t Union works. The hands from the works aitf-g.--il-O4tie'Ort.".''.",% citizens, after very great and laborious exertiatiNfiatid- - " in arresting its course by tiring against it. So rapirdtVW4s l -,\,-- •- the progress of the fire in the direction of the Union, that 4 • person hauling coal on the road through the wood, was forced to abandon his waggon and load to the fire in order to make his escspe. The prompt turning out cf the people alone saved the valuable works of Messrs. Roscnbeaum and Witnee, and the Messrs Stang-era." A Philadelphia paper gives the following dreadful incident in this connexi::n : We learn that on Friday last, a young man who was coming to market with a load of hay through • the district of New Jersey, was arrested On the way by the flames communicating with the hay, which resulted in the destruction of the young titan, horses, hay, and waggon. It is supposed that the young man was on the top of the loaded waggon and became en tanglvd so that he could not extricate himself—or that in his attempt to extinguish the flames, fell a victim to their rapid strides. He was found a distance of 10 or 15 feet front tho remains of the waggon.—Neteark Milli/ Advertiser. Major-General the Baron Van Mai - cache), Minister Pleni potentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of his Maje,ty the Em. peror of Austria to the United States, is now in this city. The absence of the President from the seat of Government, preventing the delivery of his letters credential, he made his first visit to the Secretary of State yesterday morning.-- li r ashington Globe. The jrtiers for goods at Lowell are said to be so numerous that it will take the factories a month, after exhausting the stock on hand, to answer them.—Bostln Post. CANADA. (From the Montreal Herald.) Yesterday the four individuals charged with the murder of Chartraud were again brought to the bar, and the Court pro. ceeeed with their trial. The witnesses on the part of the Crown brought the charge conclusively home against all the prisoners; and after their examination was finished, Mr. C. Moadelet, on the part of the prisoners, addressed the Jury, contonding that the crime with which they ought to have been indicted was high treason, and not murder, acd that Govern. ment dared not to try them for a crime in which the mijority of their compatriots were implicated. A few witnesses were then examined, but nothing of consequence was elicited from them. Mr. Attorney-General Ogden closed the case by an able speech. Chief Justice Reid charged the Jury, directing them to bring in a verdict of guilty against all the priioners. The Jury then retied for about half an hour, and returned with a verdict of—Not Guilty, when a rebel cheer was at tempted to be got up in the Court House. %Vh, n the verdict was known out of doors, it excited not surprise, but indignation and feeling of deep-rooted hatred and revenge on the part of the loyalists, a feeling which mill vet tell fearfully. Never, except on t h e rece i pt of intelligence of Colonel Gore having been discomfited at St. Denis, do we remember to have seen so much excitement, or to have heard such vox sof revenge. Deeply will this verdict rankle in the breasts of the volunteers, and, should the opportunity ever ar rive, it wilt be avenged in blood. If the law is insufficient for our protection, we must protect ourQelves, and if it is iniuffi cient to punish offenders against it, they must not be, on that account, allowed to escape. BATTLE BETWEEN ENGLISH AND IRISEI WORKMEN. ( Abridged from Friday's Doncaster Gazette.) Between eleven and twelve o'clock on the forencon of Wed nesday last. the peaceable inhabitants of Rotherham were sud denly alarmed by the report that a serious disturbance had talc ea place between two parties of men who were working on the North Midland Railway, and that a large party were assembled on the Hasbro'" Common, preparing for a desperate attack upon the town. In the course of a few minutes, every shop in the High-street was closed, and with the exception of perhaps one or two in some of the back streets, not a single shop was left without the shutters being put up and the door as securely fastened. The town at this time presented a very singular appearance, all the shops being closed, and groups of people standing at every corner of the streets, of course magnifying the rumours into events of the most dire description. The following, as far as we can learn, are the facts of the case :—On the line of the railway in the neighbourhood from Darfield to Swinton, a number of Irishmen are employed, against whom a jealousy had arisen on the part of the Englishmen, on account of the former working for a less rate of wages. On Wednesday morning, a dispute having arisen between one of each party, the Englishmen made common cause with their countrymen, and suddenly commenced an attack in a body at Darfield, by driving every Irishman away whom they found at work on the line. This they did from that place to Swinton, at the same time pulling down and d estroy i ng the mud hovels which the poor fellows ha] erected fer the temporary resi dence of themselves and their families. This course was proceeded in until they came near Rotherham ; when, the Irish beginning to gather courage as their forces increased, made their way over a number of fields, and broke down all the fences, with the materials of which they armed thenvelver, in the best way they could, several of them being already possessed of spades and other weapons. They then made a ' show of resistance, and stood their ground, determined not to be driven as ay any further. Fortunately, at this time, Mr. Ste phenson, the contractor, appeared, and led them peaceably into Rotherham. The Magistrates then pteczeded on horseback to speak to the other party, whom they found assembled in groups on different parts of the line, to the number of about (SOO. They evinced a worse feeling than did the Irishmen, to whom they openly manifested a very bad spirit. In the mean , time the Rotherham troop of Yeomanry Cavalry had assembled on hersebeelt in front of the Court-house,where they remedied in re diness until the return of the Magistrates, when they were dismissed. A detachment of about forty of the Artillery arrive d from Sheffield, with a field-piece, a little before four o'clock, but returned. without entering the town. A num b er of special consta bl es were sworn in during fte day. The Irishmen remained at their quarters at the railway station, and were properly provided fir th•ough the kindness of Mr. Ste phenson. Na further disturbance, however, of any moment took place ; and the town, after a sc..ne of great commotion during the day, assumed its customary appearance, with the exception of being distur bed by the drunken brawls of some straggling parties of the railway men. FCRTHER PARTICULARS. THURSDAY. HALF-rAsr TunEE O'CLOCK. —The disturbance has agaiu broken out more fearfully. The Englishmen appear determined not to allow the Irish to work. A large number of the former congregated this afternoon in front of the residence of Mr. Stephenson, and showed a determination to pull down the house. Ia consequence of this display of feeling, and for the purpose of maintaining the public tranquillity, a detachment of the artillery has arrived from Sheffield ; and with the as sistance of the special constables, have succeeded in appre hending a number of ringleaders. The Riot Act was then read by Henry Walker, Esq., of Clifton. The shops are all closed, and there is a total suspension of business. Whilst the Sheffield and Rotherham troop of yeomanry were on their way to join the regiment at Doncaster, on permanent duty, an express overtook them at Conisbro', and they immediately returned. The express proceeded to Doncaster with com munications to Lord Wharncliffe upon the gubject ; and Cap tain Glanville, the Adjutant ofithe regiment, immediately pro ceeded to Rotherham to render his assistance. The town is in a state of the greatest excitement and alarm. The troops are now parading the streets in all directions, and every exer tion has been made to preserve the peace during the night. Stx o'CLock.—Through the exertions which have been used by the Authorities, assisted by the military, peace has been hitherto preserved. The Sheffield troops of Yeomanry Caval, y have left for Doncaster. The Rotherham troop re mains, and is acting in concert with the artillery and the police force. All is quiet at this moment ; but the excitement and alarm which prevailed during the day has not wholly subsided. [The Sheffield troops reached Doncaster at eight o'clock last Thursday night.] THE LATE FIRE AT LIVERPOOL.--The n;r, account of the c:uso of the great explosion which re kindled the flames van n they seemed to be on the point of expiring, is given by a skilful chemist :—The cause of the explosion which took place on Saturday morning, I con- ceive to be this—The large quantity of burnt wood, gum, &c., which must have fallen among the saltpetre in the shape of charcoal, and the powerful heat to which that substance was exposed, causing it to give out an immense column of oxygen gas, which, combining with the in flammable matter, produced the delhgration. When it is considered that nitre, when subjected to the action of a red beat, becomes decomposed, giving out one-eighth of its weight of oxygen, it will not be at all surprising that the effect prod uce d on t h e occas i on above alluded to sould have taken place. I cAti only express my astonishment that the consequences were not much more terrific. The nitre itself, free from any mixture, would burn, but without causing any detonation, the basis of the salt being nitric acid and pot ash. Subjected to a moderate h2at in an open vessel, it un dergoes no particular change of its properties ; bit by com bining a small portion of charcoal, and precipitating both sub stances into a vessel heated to redness, detonation takes place. In the composition of gunpowder, into which it so largely en ters, this property is fully exemplified. In every 100 parts 0 powder 76 are nitre, 15 charcoal, and only nine sulphur; clearly showing that the nitre must be one of by far the most influential substances.—Manchester Gualdian. - _ _ MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Thursday night, a; two men, named Edward Hammond and David Durrant, in the employ of Mr. Bewley, iron founder, of Chelmsford, were returning home from Canewdon with a horse and cart, the vehicle was upset, and Hammond vras killed. Durrant, the survivor, states that they left the Chequers, C'anewdon, about eight o'clock on Thursday night, on their way home from Mr. Marks's, where they had been at work ; deceased, who i s horsekeeper to Mr. Bewley, driving. O n turning a corner of the lane in the parish of South Fambridge, fioin some cause the cart was turned comp letel y over on t h e near side, and Durrant with some difficulty released one of his arms from under it. He was then unable to find his computon, but havin g o bt a i ne d the assistance of Mr. Wicker a righted i d g . ht h ht i ee s dy sfteohruev found dc n a t tr f ht r ,e o u m rni distancedraeeliesws ibiwhich, in Deceased was back for . up wards nf f tt a ih, eom ditch,dile„eadni,baan.n q t u ,tr a ni r in t o e rift,notrtlh horse, which ewph, of an hour, was uninjure& the house of Mr. Boultwood, blacksmith, t se 6 re w . :: s t c e d ar i .. r g le re d e t n o , where an inquest was held on Saturday, a bAcre Codd, Ewi., Coroner, and a verdict of Accidental Death was urued.—Essexsex Herald. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1838.